Current News

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR
RALPH NADING HILL, JR. LITERARY PRIZE
COLCHESTER. Entries are now being accepted for the 17th annual Ralph Nading
Hill, Jr., Literary Prize. The contest was established to memorialize the
literary contributions of Ralph Nading Hill, Jr., one of Vermont's best
known writers and historians, who died at the age of 70 in December 1987.
The contest is sponsored by Green Mountain Power Corporation and Vermont
Life magazine. Mr. Hill was a long time member of GMP's Board of
Directors and the Vermont Life Editorial Board.
The Ralph Nading Hill literary prize is now considered by Vermont
writers to be one of the state's premier literary prizes. Entry
for the prize, as in past years, may be an essay, short story,
play or poetry. The focus of the literary work must be "Vermont -
Its People, the Place, Its History or Its Values." It must be

Secretary of Administration Michael K. Smith Announces August 2004
Revenue Results For The State Of Vermont
General Fund

Secretary of Administration Michael K. Smith released September 7 General Fund revenue results for
the month of August, the second month of fiscal year 2005. General Fund revenues totaled
$68.18 million for August 2004, $4.86 million or 7.7 % more than the $63.32 million consensus
revenue target for the month. August results were also $9.59 million (or 16.4%) more than
General Fund revenues in August 2003. Year to date, General Fund revenues totaled $148.65
million.
Secretary Smith noted, We are encouraged that after two months, General Fund
revenues are $9.03 million or 6.5% ahead of expectations.

For Immediate Release: Contact: Leigh Tofferi
September 8, 2004 (802) 371-3205
Many Vermont Families Now Eligible for Weight Loss Program
Berlin, VT Thousands of Vermonters and their families are now eligible for discounts in Vermont on memberships in Weight Watchers®, the leading weight-loss organization, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont announced today.
These discounts are the first of a selection of services in a new non-benefit discount program the states largest health insurer is making available to its members and their families for no additional cost, according to Kevin Goddard, Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs.
Goddard cited numerous studies that state that obesity substantially increases a persons risk of developing many chronic health conditions. The results of these studies, according to Goddard, were the primary motivation for launching the new program partnering with the popular weight loss program.

State Appoints New Deputy Commissioner of Securities
Montpelier, VT -- Commissioner John P. Crowley of the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration (BISHCA) has appointed Tanya A. Durkee to the post of Deputy Commissioner of the Securities Division. Former Deputy Phillips Keller, III, accepted a new position with the Department.

Tubbs Snowshoes closing Stowe plant

Tubbs Snowshoes of Stowe will move its production facilities to China. The Vermont manufacturing plant will close by February 2005. When K2 Inc bought Tubbs a year ago, industry analysts expected the skiing company to move the snowshoe maker to its manufacturing facilities in China at some point. The Tubbs administration will move to Washington State, where K2 has its winter sports headquarters.

The move will cost 27 fulltime and 30-40 seasonal jobs in Vermont. Some sales and marketing positions will probably stay in Vermont.

Along with skis and snowshoes, K2's brands include Rawlings sporting goods, and Exofficio clothing and gear, among many others.

Thirty-five prosecutors, law enforcement officials, forensic tool developers, and computer forensics practitioners from around the country convened on the Champlain College campus on September 1 and 2, 2004, as part of a US Department of Justice project. Champlain College is an important partner in the National Institute of Justices (NIJ) Electronic Crime Partnership Initiative (ECPI). The ECPI is promoting Champlain's Computer & Digital Forensics program as a model that can be replicated elsewhere in the country to help fight electronic crime and cyber terrorism.
US Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Americas Cyber Senator, came to the Champlain College campus to meet the ECPI participants.

For Immediate Release: Contact: Leigh Tofferi
September 7, 2004 (802) 371-3205
Public Invited to Celebrate Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermonts 60th Year of Serving Vermonters
Berlin, VT - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is inviting the public to join in celebration of the organizations 60th anniversary offering quality nondiscriminatory health benefits in Vermont. A family oriented event featuring games, refreshments and music, will be held at the Round Barn at Shelburne Museum on September 18, 2004 from 10:00AM to 12:00 noon.
The Vermont observance coincides with the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield systems 75th anniversary this year. What began as an innovative prepaid health care plan for loggers and teachers has evolved into a national, technology-driven system that provides health benefits and financing for millions of Americans delivered through independent, community-based, local companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont.

DuBois & King Relocates to Downtown Randolph
Randolph, Vermont- DuBois & King, Inc., a multi-disciplinary engineering firm, located 2.5 miles out of the center of Randolph on Vermont Route 66, is packing up and moving to the center of town. Sounds simple enough, right? It took five years of effort and the involvement of eleven federal, state, and regional agencies. The new building, on the site of the old Village School, is nearing completion and moving day is soon approaching.
In business since 1962, DuBois & King has operated outside of town near Exit 4, off Interstate 89, for 33 years. Proximity to the Interstate was a major factor in originally locating the business on Route 66. Extensive travel is required to service clients throughout Vermont and New England.

GROUNDS FOR GROWTH: GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS
OPENS NEW, $9 MILLION DISTRIBUTION CENTER
WATERBURY, VT (September 1, 2004) -- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) celebrated a significant milestone in its growth todaythe opening of a distribution center that will allow the Company to keep up with increasing consumer demand for a good cup of coffee. U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, and Company CEO Bob Stiller were on hand to cut the ribbon at the new site in Waterbury, Vermont.
The new, 52,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center will mean Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has the room to increase its roasting capacity from 17 million pounds of coffee a year to 50 million pounds annually. The multi-level building cost $9 million to build and features state-of-the-art automation that is anticipated to increase efficiency and lower overall distribution costs in the long run.

Governor Announces First Clean and Clear Water Plan Grants
Montpelier-Governor Jim Douglas was in St. Albans today to announce
the first $111,000 in grants for his Clean and Clean Action Plan and
present a check for $11,000 to the Lake Champlain Committee for work to
identify which areas in the St. Albans Bay watershed should undergo
treatments to reduce the amount of phosphorus reaching the lake.
Douglas' multi-year, multi-million dollar clean-up plan for the Lake
Champlain Basin, and waterways throughout Vermont, received $500,000 in
capital funds in the fiscal year 2005 budget to complete stream stability
projects. Douglas' plan calls for this stream stability program to be
funded for at least six years. "Our plan is about more than a precious
natural resource; it is about more than our lakes, rivers and streams.
It's about our quality of life, and our way of life," Douglas said.

VEDA BOARD APPROVES $10.7 MILLION IN PROJECT FINANCING COMMITMENTS
Montpelier - Vermont manufacturing, educational, healthcare-related, technology and agricultural projects totaling $23.2 million have been approved by VEDAs Board of Directors for $10.7 million in Vermont Economic Development Authority financing assistance.
The Boards commitment of VEDA resources has enabled these projects to leverage an additional $12.5 million in private and public capital to create jobs, enhance vital community services, and improve Vermonters lives, said Jo Bradley, VEDAs Chief Executive Officer.
The projects approved by the VEDA Board are:

October 6th kicks off the start of a new group of adults seeking a masters degree in business administration from the College of St. Joseph. This program is specifically designed to accommodate working adults who want to expand their career opportunities and earning potential. Courses focus on developing managerial leadership skills and conveniently meet one evening each week. Students advance through the coursework with their original group, which provides the added benefit of developing strong relationships within the classroom and the workplace.